momodot - you are close!

The postwork (in PS) i tend to undertake runs like this (approximately):

layer1(normal)/filter/artistic/paint daubs(wide and blurry) merged 50% with layer 2(soft light)/filter/artistic/cutout

smudge tool (brush setting 24,27) to push things around/emulate brush work/etc

some painting (line work) but not that much

colour changes with colour adjustment/selective colour and if necessary hue/saturation

increasingly tend to configure the original render (Poser or Vue) with lights (for contrast) and colour bucket to help the process along

thats about it! I will do a walkthrough one of these days!

My thanks to Timberwolf, Sarte, and JenX for the recommendation!

The last image was looking good by the way!